News

Long before the hotel rooms are filled, the venues booked or the games scheduled, there comes the classic deal sealer – the handshake.

Sometimes, it takes a long time to get there.

When PCTSM recently extended the contract with Tough Mudder, Inc., to host their Obstacle Course Run at Mimms Family Corporate Ranch in Mulberry the weekend of Oct. 13-14, 2018, it was just the latest step in a long relationship. Soon after the event, negotiations started on the next event – a full 10K with 20 different obstacles – to be held in October of 2018.

However, this relationship has gone a long way.

The event first came to Polk County in 2013 and was held at River Ranch. However, folks from Tough Mudder took there event elsewhere the following years.

That is when PCSM Sales and Events Representative Josh Hicks went to work.

It was 2016 when Hicks noticed Tough Mudder representatives at different industry trade shows.

“I did what we do – I started to establish the relationship,” said Hicks, who joined PCSM in 2011. “I opened the lines of communication and established trust. When they said they were looking around at different venues, I made sure Polk County was on that list.”

Last year, Tough Mudder was a great boost to the local economy in October, traditionally one of the slowest times of the year for tourism. In 2018, Tough Mudder featured 5,500 participants and a $3.4 million economic impact on Polk County.